Fort Lee Home to One of Taekwon-Do's Rising Stars

At just 13 years of age, Fort Lee’s Marc-Dimitri Akda has become one of the top Taekwon-Do competitors in the world.

Just a month ago, he was sparring in New Zealand at the 2011 ITF Taekwon-Do  World Championships and became the youngest competitor in the history of the event to earn a medal.

Draped with an American flag and with chants of “U-S-A” echoing around him, Marc-Dmitri received the bronze medal in the under 52 kg Junior Male Sparring Micro division to cheers, having accomplished something that has never been done by someone his age before at the event.

But instead of celebrating his impressive accomplishment, or flaunting his achievement to the world, Marc-Dimitri chose not to have a celebration upon returning to Fort Lee and vows to become even better before the next time he returns to the ring. He did pause for a moment this week however to reflect upon what he had indeed accomplished.

“I couldn’t really compare it to anything," he said. "It was just so amazing."

It is not enough to just be the best Taekwon-Do fighter for his age group in America. Marc-Dimitri wants to become the best in the world.

And even though he is competing against teenagers, some of whom are four years older than him, the 5’2” Fort Lee middle school student is not intimidated by being smaller.

“I was always the shortest kid out of everybody,” Marc-Dimitri said. “People think that the short one is not going to do well. They would underestimate me and that would keep me driving forward to be the best.”

The 114-pound athlete can often be seen training at the Team USA Taekwon-Do Fitness Center on Fort Lee’s Lemoine Ave. with his coach Alvin Bernard.

In the time since Bernard began coaching the student at the age of just four, the long-time leader has seen the progress grow into a potential world championship.

“From four years old to now, it is a big difference,” Bernard said. “He is turning into a man now.”

The two have traveled the globe together for competitions at the region, state and now world championship levels. But their work is not complete, and the goal at hand is not within grasp for Marc-Dmitri just yet.

Despite having a myriad of trophies that scale high in his bedroom and even more medals that grace the walls of his home, Marc-Dmitri is anxiously awaiting the World Cup in 2012 for a chance at a gold medal in London, England.

“It is going to take a little more than what I got, because that got me third,” said Marc-Dimitri. “I think I can pull it off, so I am not worried about trying to get gold.”

At the same time, he may also be just as good a person as he is at Taekwon-Do. Marc-Dimitri is an honor roll student at Lewis F. Cole Middle School, where he is in the eighth grade, and he knows that just because he could fight just about anyone, does not mean he should.

As some students have actually encouraged him to start fights at school in hopes of “having the reputation” as one of the toughest kids, Marc-Dimitri chooses to follow the lessons of Taekwon-Do instead.

“I said, ‘Forget it; that is not the point of Taekwon-do,'" he said. “The only time where I am really supposed to use this is if I am cornered somewhere… it is self defense basically.”

Marc-Dimitri also quoted the student oath that says, “I shall build a more peaceful world,” which he has taken to mean a good deal in his life.

“You are not trying to cause war or fights between people,” he continued. “You are supposed to keep calm and everything.”

So where Marc-Dimitri may be fierce in the ring, he is friendly outside the ring, using Taekwon-Do as a platform for life.

“It teaches discipline, courtesy, and respect,” Marc’s mother Randa said. “All of this has shaped [Marc-Dimitri's] personality.”